Although Trident’s Rafael Câmara currently leads the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Drivers’ Championship by 26 points, the title fight remains far from over. With half of the season still to run, every driver remains mathematically in contention. Sixteen drivers have climbed the podium so far, six of whom have claimed race wins—a testament to the fierce competitiveness of the series.
Among those regularly in the mix are Van Amersfoort Racing’s young contenders: Théophile Naël, Santiago Ramos, and Ivan Domingues. All three have shown both speed and consistency. However, in such a tightly contested field, raw talent alone is no longer enough. With restricted testing and limited track time on race weekends, off-track preparation has become essential.
The modern simulator now plays a pivotal role in that process, allowing teams and drivers to rehearse, analyse, and refine performance long before they arrive at the circuit.
Preparation ahead of the Spielberg and Silverstone rounds
At Van Amersfoort Racing’s base in Amsterdam, preparation begins with simulator sessions designed to replicate race conditions and refine driving techniques. For Théophile Naël, these sessions are indispensable.
“We are actually here in Amsterdam to prepare the next two rounds. So Red Bull Ring and Silverstone. So we are doing two days of simulator meetings, pre-event notes as well. Yeah, speaking a lot about the road plans, what’s going to happen and this is really important.”
The simulator enables drivers to memorise braking points, evaluate setup changes, and study track characteristics. Alongside this, engineers gather data to build strategy plans and simulate potential scenarios.
Naël also places high importance on personal development outside of team operations.
“And then I think mental prep for me is more on my side at home, let’s say, or with my trainer. But yes, I think most of the drivers are working on the bad points, the points to improve. So that’s actually what I’m doing and trying to be even stronger weekend after weekend.”
By combining team-based simulation with private mental and physical training, Naël ensures a balanced and focused approach to every race weekend.
Preparation helps Van Amersfoort Racing know what to do “from day one”
Ivan Domingues emphasised how simulator work lays the groundwork for the entire weekend. Far from being a standalone tool, it serves as a base from which the team aligns strategy and execution.
“So, of course, here we do all the prepping before going out to the track and we use a simulator for it as a base of the work. Of course, as I said, we are here in the team factory doing all the prep before —meetings and notes and just basically making sure when we arrive to the track, we know what we are going to do from day one.”
Simulator sessions cover a wide range of scenarios, from tyre management to start procedures and qualifying simulations. These rehearsals allow Domingues to refine his approach and react instinctively once on track.
“And yeah, I think yes, the simulator nowadays is a very good tool to prep ourselves for all kinds of situations in the race runs or Safety Cars or whatever.”
Such preparation is particularly useful in a category where Safety Cars, rain, and red flags frequently disrupt sessions. With little time for adjustment once the weekend begins, pre-emptive planning can make the difference between fighting for points or falling behind.
The simulator a “really helpful tool” with limited on-track practice available
For Van Amersfoort Racing’s Santiago Ramos, the most valuable aspect of simulator work is how it compensates for the lack of real-world running in F3. Drivers have only one Free Practice session before Qualifying—often with only a few flying laps.
“And yeah, for me, I think it’s a really helpful tool to have a simulator. Drivers did not have this in the past, or especially this championship that we do not have much running during pre-Practise, just like two or three laps sometimes, sometimes even less.”
Scenario planning key to a strong weekend
The simulator helps Ramos internalise references such as braking zones, corner exits, and gear shifts—key information needed before turning a wheel in reality.
“So yeah, I think it’s good to be prepared just before hitting the track, just to know your references, have everything clear and obviously, you know, discuss with your team all the possible scenarios that could present yourself in the weekend, know if there’s rain, if there’s traffic, if there’s red flags.”
Scenario planning, he noted, plays a significant role in reducing mistakes and maximising track time. With so many variables in play, being mentally ready for any outcome becomes an advantage.
“We try to anticipate all that to be prepared in every scenario and yeah, try to make the least amount of mistakes during the weekend, because at the end, every weekend counts and it’s important we can be up there every session, not only Qualifying [and] Races, but also the pre-Practices.”
Ramos also credited his team for the level of support they provide in preparing detailed event data and analysis.
“So yeah, really happy to be able to have these tools. I think the team also makes a good job preparing every event. They have a good info and good engineers that are able to make a good pre-event report for us.”
Preparation defines performance for Van Amersfoort
In the 2025 FIA F3 Championship, every detail matters. While natural skill remains a vital asset, the ability to prepare strategically and mentally has become just as important. For Van Amersfoort Racing’s Naël, Domingues, and Ramos, simulator work provides the foundation for consistency and confidence in an unpredictable racing environment.
By simulating every lap, condition, and variable long before they arrive at the circuit, the Van Amersfoort Racing trio are proving that preparation is no longer just a supplement to performance—it is a competitive weapon in its own right.
